Wood siding is a common construction material in both old and new houses, due to its attractive appearance, availability and ease of installation. Although it doesn't need seen to often, wood siding maintenance tends to be tedious, since outside of basic cleaning of dirt and mildew, recommended maintenance measures include repainting painted wood siding or reapplying water repellent to stained wood siding.

Steps

Method1

Cleaning Wood Siding

1

Mix 3 parts water with 1 part chlorine or oxygen bleach in a bucket. Dip a long-handled scrub brush into the bucket, thoroughly saturating it with the solution.

2

Apply the bleach solution to the wood siding. Leave it for 30 minutes.

3

Rinse the wood siding from top to bottom with a garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle.

Method2

Repainting Painted Wood Siding

1

Pour a water-based chemical stripper into an all-purpose sprayer, following the manufacturers' recommendations for both products.

2

Spray the painted wood siding with a generous amount of the stripper, and then allow 8 to 12 hours for it to work at the paint. The ideal time for this process is to apply stripper in the evening and scrape paint the following day.

3

Scrape the paint from the wood siding with a long-handled, wide putty knife. If the paint is extremely thick, you may have to scrape what will come off and apply more stripper in the same manner, followed by another scraping session.

4

Fit 80-grit sandpaper onto a random-orbit sander. Sand the bare wood to provide a slightly rough surface to which the primer will better adhere.

5

Pour latex primer into a paint tray. Dip a paintbrush into the primer, and then use it to prime over heads of nails and knots in the wood. This will add an extra bit of primer to more noticeable areas. Allow this primer to dry

6

Paint primer onto the entirety of the wood siding. Apply an even, drip-free coat of primer, using long brush strokes. Make sure primer covers all wood surfaces, including cracks and the areas on which siding butts up to trim pieces. Allow adequate drying time, based on the primer manufacturer's recommendations.

7

Apply exterior latex paint with mildewcide, in the color you wish to paint the wood siding, using the same techniques as used in applying primer.

Method3

Reapplying Water Repellent on Stained Wood Siding

1

Deep clean the stained siding with an oxygen bleach solution, just as you would for cleaning the siding. Oxygen bleach is safer for use with stains, as they fade more quickly than paint. Allow the siding to dry completely.

2

Pour a water repellent into a paint tray. The better quality repellent you select, the longer you can wait between applications.

3

Dip a paintbrush into the water repellent, and then apply it to the stained wood siding in long, even strokes. Make sure you get all cracks and crevices.

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Tips

Deep clean the stained siding with an oxygen bleach solution, just as you would for mildew and mold removal. Oxygen bleach is safer for use with stains, as they fade more quickly than paint. Allow the siding to dry completely.

Warnings

Do not use a pressure washer to clean wood siding. It may cause water to get behind the siding, which can create mold problems.

Use caution if cleaning wood siding with chlorine bleach, as it may bleach the color out of the siding. It is also toxic to plants and wildlife, so oxygen bleach is a better choice in highly vegetated or animal-inhabited areas.